Central Mountain’s season ends at the hands of Naugle and Selinsgrove, 58-37

By Bees O’Brien

SELINSGROVE- Ries Naugle entered Wednesday night’s 4/6 5A semifinal as a top priority on defense for Central Mountain, but it would be Gavin Bastian that would carry the Selinsgrove Seals to a first half lead. The Wildcats held Naugle to just 7 first half points. Bastian would score 15 points in the opening half to give the Seals the 25-18 lead.

The Wildcats had trouble getting in the scoring column in the first quarter, but Bastian and company would do enough damage to take the 9-4 lead. 

Central Mountain, behind the outstanding play of star scorer Hunter Hoy would do much better in the second quarter. Selinsgrove still outscored Central Mountain 16-14 in the frame, but the Wildcats offense was back in sync. 

Central Mountain continued to slug away at Selinsgrove’s lead in the third quarter. The Wildcats would bring the lead to just 30-26 at the midway point of the quarter, but Naugle would begin to heat up.

Naugle would score 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half that included three powerful dunks. Selinsgrove’s 16-14 third quarter advantage had them up 41-32 entering the final quarter of play.

Central Mountain were well within striking distance, but once again the lid would return to the rim for the Wildcats.

A 17-5 run by Selinsgrove would set the final and ice the Wildcats season at 13-10. Selinsgrove’s 58-37 victory will now advance the Seals to the 5A 4/6 Championship game on Saturday.

Hunter Hoy finished a strong campaign by scoring 22 points, while Caleb Mahoney would net 9.

Naugle finished with 23 to lead the Seals, while Bastian did his damage with 18 points.

CM 4 14 14 5 = 37

Selinsgrove 9 16 16 17 = 58

CM (37)

Hoy 7 5-6 22, Myers 2 0-0 4, Mahoney 3 2-2 9, Reese 0 0-0 0, Walker 1 0-0 2, Grenninger 0 0-0 0, Long 0 0-0 0, Omu-Osagie 0 0-0 0, Persun 0 0-0 0, Verrelli 0 0-0 0, Charles 0 0-0 0, TOTALS- 13 7-8 37

3FG- 4 (Hoy 3, Mahoney)